By law, the deadlock gets broken "by lot." So Tuesday afternoon, the four-member Stark County Board of Elections dragged out its 1923 silver dollar, a coin that's been passed on from one elections director to the next for decades, for just such an occasion.

Dierick was assigned 'heads;' Dobransky 'tails.'

Chairman Sam Ferruccio did the honors. Members decided to let the coin fall on to the table in front of them, rather than catch it. It twirled around on its way up, then down. It hit the table with a clanking sound, wobbled a few times and came to rest.

Tails.

"Mr. Dobransky wins," announced member Curt Braden.

With that, Dobransky claimed the fourth available slot, joining the top three vote-getters Albert Woodin, Stanley Olmstead and Larry Hawkins — but even that may not be final.

Because the race was decided by less than a half-percent margin, state law now requires an automatic recount. The recount for that and two other races will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Board office.

In the other races:

• Ron Briggs leads Jim Smith 107 to 105 for the fourth open village council seat in Meyers Lake.

• James Fisher leads Kathleen Purdy 1,648 to 1,627 for the third and final Marlington Board of Education seat.